Jan 14, 2008

It’s not always easy to get along with the people you live with. Sometimes the ones you are closest to can be the most aggravating. While there is no magic pill to create harmony in the home, simply listening can do wonders for family relations.

“The power of listening closely to another person diminishes bitterness and conflict. When we really listen to others, it’s pretty difficult to fight with them,” says Ann Pardo, director of Behavioral Health at Canyon Ranch in Tucson.

It’s not just for parents or adults either. The listening trick can even work for kids.

“Teenagers sometimes have a hard time listening because their world is so full of anxiety and they have too much mental chatter going on to be able to listen. But when you do find a teenager who really listens, it’s like they’re from another planet,” Ann says.

Being a good listener may sound easy at first, but people still sometimes fail. When that happens, Ann says to forgive them when they don’t listen, particularly family, because it’s usually due to too much technology, too much speed, and too many tasks to be done in too short of time.

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